Variety of Ceanothus plant named &#39;FIT02&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Ceanothus  named ‘FIT02’ that is characterized by chocolate brown and dark purple mature foliage, an upright, vigorous habit, and small clusters of flowers in Summer. In combination these traits set ‘FIT02’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Ceanothus  known to the inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ceanothus used as a potted shrub or hedging plant. The new cultivar is known botanically and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘FIT02’, but may also be known by the Breeder's reference name “Plum Purple.” In 2001 the inventor discovered a spontaneously occurring, branch sport in a nursery grown batch of Ceanothus griseus var. ‘Autumnal Blue’ (unpatented) in Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland. That year, the inventor propagated the present variety through cuttings of the said branch sport. From a single surviving chocolate brown plant, repeated propagations have built up a population of plants that all exhibited a unique purple evergreen foliage of the type first discovered by the inventor. Thus, the essential characteristic of foliage color was considered by the inventor to have been firmly established.

The selection of FIT02 from the population was based on its overall appearance and growth habit. Thus, although ‘Autumnal Blue’ may be deemed as the ultimate parent of FIT02, the immediate parent is an unnamed one of many unnamed plants resulting from the extraction, propagation and multiplication of the initial 2001 branch sport discovery.

The distinguishing characteristic of ‘FIT02’ is its foliage which appears as a combination of chocolate and dark purple, with a vigorous bushy healthy upright growth habit. Otherwise, FIT02 exhibits the same characteristics of Autumnal Blue, including flowers that bloom in Summer as are typical of ‘Autumnal Blue’ which is the closest comparison plant within the species.

‘FIT02’ is suitable for use in temperate climates as an ornamental patio plant or contrast plant in a perennial border, and will survive mild winters. ‘FIT02’ was first asexually propagated by the inventor in Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland in 2001 using vegetative tip cuttings. The distinguishing characteristics of foliage color have been determined to be stable and uniform within the definitions of range described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Ceanothus cultivar ‘FIT02’. In combination these traits set ‘FIT02’ apart from all other existing varieties of Ceanothus known to the inventor. ‘FIT02’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype. 1. Ceanothus ‘FIT02’ exhibits foliage that is chocolate brown and dark purple. 2. Ceanothus ‘FIT02’ is a vigorous bushy evergreen shrub that will eventually spread to 300 cm. in width and 200 cm. in height at maturity. 3. Ceanothus ‘FIT02’ exhibits small clusters of flowers in Summer. 4. Ceanothus ‘FIT02’ is an ornamental shrub used effectively as an accent plant in containers or as a contrast plant in perennial borders. 5. Ceanothus ‘FIT02’ is suitable for temperate climates and will survive mild winters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new variety ‘FIT02’, showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawing may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘FIT02’.

The drawing on sheet 1 is a view of a whole plant in the landscape showing the plant form and habit;

The drawing on sheet 2 is a close-up view of the foliage and flowers of ‘FIT02’; and

The drawing on sheet 3 is a close-up view of the leaves of ‘FIT02’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the Ceanothus cultivar named ‘FIT02’. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, without however, any difference in genotype. Color determinations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species.

Botanical classification: Ceanothus ‘FLT02’ Species: griseus var. horizontalis. Use: Ornamental. Commercial classification: Shrub. Parentage: The parent of ‘FIT02’ is an unnamed plant from a population of plants that resulted from vegetative propagation cycles of the branch sport from Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis ‘Autumnal Blue’. Growth rate: Vigorous. Grows approximately 15 cm. per month in spring. Habit: Upright. Height (at maturity): 200 cm. Width (at maturity): 300 cm. in width. Propagation: Vegetative tip cuttings. Root system: Fine to fibrous. Soil: Plant in well-drained soils. Sunlight: Plant in semi-shade or full sun. Sexuality: Monoecious. Growth Cycle Approximately 12-18 months Branching habit: Freely branching. Seasonal interest: Natural flowering season is summer-late summer. Disease resistance and No more susceptible to pests or disease susceptibility: than similar species. Water Requirements Low water needs, tolerates drought well High Temperature Tolerance At least up to 35° C. Low Temperature Tolerance At least hardy to USDA Zone 7b Stem: Internode length (lateral Average is 2.5 cm. between nodes. stems). Angle at emergence Lateral branches emerge at an average angle of 45 degree. to 60 degree. to vertical branches. Lateral stem diameter.- 2 mm. in diameter. Lateral stem length. Average stem length of main branches: 90 cm. Average stem length of lateral branches: 14 cm. Shape (vertical branches and A combination of cylindrical and lateral stems). multicostate. Lenticels. Absent. Quantity of leaves per lateral Average: 13 branch Lateral color. Stem/Branch Color Upper side greyed-purple 183 A/B Under side yellow-green 144 B/C and flushed greyed-purple 183 A/B Older stem greyed-purple to brown N186C/200B Foliage: Type Evergreen. Leaf arrangement. Alternate. Leaf division Simple. Leaf shape Ovate. Leaf base Obtuse. Leaf apex Acute to obtuse. Leaf tip Rounded. Leaf venation Pinnate. Vein color (upper side) Yellow-green 146C Vein color (under side) Yellow-green 146C Leaf surface (adaxial). Young leaves are pubescent while older leaves are glabrous and glossy. Leaf surface (abaxial) Young and older leaves are matte and pubescent. Leaf attachment Petiolate. Petiole diameter Average length 8 mm Average width 1.5 mm Average height 1 mm Petiole color Yellow green 152 B/C Petiole shape: Flattened oval. Petiole surface: Pubescent. Stipules. Absent. Leaf margins. Entire to sparsely serrulate, and revolute. Finely serrate (approx. 5 teeth per cm) Leaf length Average 4.5 cm Leaf width Average 3.5 cm Leaf color: Young, under side Dark brown; in between 200A and 202A Mature, under side Dark yellow-green 147A but much darker and tinged brownish later fading yellow- green 147A Leaf color: Young, upper side Greyed-green 197A; heavily tinged dark yellow-green 147 Mature, upper side yellow-green 146/147A Foliar fragrance Absent. Flower: Inflorescence Dense panicle. Quantity of inflorescences Approximately 5-6 panicles per branch. Quantity of flowers per Average: 76 inflorescence Shape of inflorescence Short and rounded. Inflorescence height Average 5.7 cm Inflorescence width Average: 3.6 cm Flower shape Campanulate. Aspect Facing outward. Flower color: Color of petal (upper side) Violet blue 92C194D; base lighter 92D/94D Color of petal (under side) Violet blue 92C/94D; base lighter 92D/94D Petals Five in number. Petal shape Narrow oblanceolate, concave Petal apex Rounded. Petal base Attenuate. Petal margin Entire. Petal surface/texture Smooth. Petal length Average: 2.5 mm Petal width Average: 0.75 mm Unfused or fused Petals are unfused. Bud color Violet blue 97A; top darker 96C1D Bud shape Globular to flattened globular. Bud dimensions 2 mm. in length and 2.25 mm. in diameter. Shape of calyx Globose when closed and stellate when open. Dimensions of calyx. 3 mm. in diameter and 2.5 mm. in length. Number of sepals Five sepals. Sepal color (mature, upper Violet-blue 92D/94D; tip darker 92C/94D side) Sepal color (mature, under Violet-blue 92D/94D; tip darker 92C/94D side) Sepal apex Acute. Sepal surfaces (adaxial and Glabrous. abaxial). Sepals fused or unfused Basally fused. Sepal base Truncate. Sepal margin Entire. Sepal shape Ovate. Dimensions of sepal Average 1.5 mm. in width and 2.5 mm. in length. Blooming period Average: 1 week Quantity of flowers Approximately 600 flowers per plant. Peduncle dimensions Average 5.3 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter Color of peduncle Yellow-green 145A Surface of peduncle Puberulent. Pedicel dimensions 9 mm. in length and 0.5 mm. in diameter. Pedicel color Purple 77C/D; more violet-blue toward calyx 92D/94D Pedicel surface Glabrous. Fragrance Slightly sweet. Reproduction organs: Stamens Five in number. Form of stamen Filament. Dimensions of anther 0.50 mm. in width and 2 mm. in length. Color of anther Yellow 11C Pollen color Yellow 11D Pistil One in number. Pistil shape Columnar. Dimensions of pistil Average 1 mm. in length Stigma shape Trifid. Cleft (3-parted) Stigma color Violet-blue 94C Style color Violet-blue 94C Style length Average: 0.5 mm Ovary position Superior. Ovary color Yellow-green 147A Ovary shape Flattened globular. Seed: Fruit color Greyed-purple 187A; base is yellow-green 145C Fruit surface Glossy when mature. Fruit shape 3-lobed capsule. Length of fruit Average: 4.5 cm Fruit texture Granular and sticky; smooth, glossy. Number of seeds 100 per inflorescence. Average 2 seeds er fruit. Seed shape Globular. Seed color Dark brown, in between 200A and 202A. Seed dimensions 3 mm. in length and 2 mm. in diameter. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Ceanothus plant named ‘FIT02’ as described and illustrated. 